May 3rd

Palestinians: Fire damages mosque in West Bank ATFP World Press Roundup Article from May 3, 2011 - 12:00am Palestinian villagers say a mosque has been set on fire in the northern West Bank. The residents of Hawara village near Nablus say they didn't see anyone at the scene of the pre-dawn blaze on Tuesday. But the villagers say they suspect the mosque was torched by Jewish settlers who live nearby and with whom they have strained relations. Villagers put out the fire, which damaged prayer carpets. Two of the mosque's windows were broken. Israeli security forces had no immediate comment. » Read more

Gaza demonstrators condemn death of bin Laden ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Associated Press May 3, 2011 - 12:00am Some two dozen Palestinians gathered in the Gaza Strip on Tuesday to pay tribute to slain al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden. About 25 people holding pictures and posters of bin Laden rallied outside a Gaza City university. The crowd included al-Qaida sympathizers as well as students who said they opposed bin Laden's ideology, but were angry at the U.S. for killing him and consider him a martyr. Hamas police did not interfere in the demonstration. » Read more

Good news for peace ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Bitterlemons by Ghassan Khatib - (Blog) May 2, 2011 - 12:00am The reconciliation agreement that was initialed between Fateh and Hamas and will be signed by them in Cairo, next Wednesday, is good news for both the Palestinian people and the peace process. A united Palestinian people is more conducive to a successful peace process than Palestinians splintered and in conflict. This is especially true if they are united on a political basis compatible to the fundamental requirements of the peace process and international legality. » Read more

Palestinian unity drive has Israeli price tag ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Reuters by Mohammed Assadi - May 3, 2011 - 12:00am Palestinian government workers fear pay cuts this month after Israel halted transfer of tax revenues in response to a deal to reunite the two rival wings of the Palestinian independence movement. But many believe the surprise agreement between President Mahmoud Abbas' secular Fatah faction and Hamas Islamists in Gaza will be worth the price if it brings statehood closer. Israel refuses to deal with Hamas, which does not recognise the Jewish state. The two came close to a second war last month. » Read more

Not a finished product ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Bitterlemons by Yossi Alpher - (Blog) May 3, 2011 - 12:00am The Fateh-Hamas reconciliation announced last week is yet another by-product of the revolutionary wave sweeping the Arab world. As such, it is not a finished product: it is subject to change and evolution. Moreover, in the particular case of the Palestinians, we may also witness changes in the reconciliation process that reflect the shifting tactical calculations of the two partners, much as we have seen in their relationship ever since the 2006 Palestinian elections. Indeed, one difficulty in understanding this new departure is the lack of total clarity regarding both sides' motives. » Read more

Fayyad: No salaries as PA waits for tax revenues ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency May 3, 2011 - 12:00am Palestinian Authority premier Salam Fayyad said Monday that Israel's decision to withhold Palestinian tax revenue over the announcement of Palestinian unity would not deter reconciliation efforts. "The Palestinian Authority will never accept division as the price of financial support," Fayyad told reporters Monday afternoon in Ramallah. Israel's Finance Minister Yuval Steinitz told Army Radio on Sunday he had postponed a meeting to arrange the transfer of an estimated 300 million shekels ($88.7 million) in tax revenue which Israel collects on behalf of the PA. » Read more

Palestinian factions sign unity deal in Cairo ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Agence France Presse (AFP) May 3, 2011 - 12:00am Palestinian factions gathered in Cairo on Tuesday signed a reconciliation deal that will pave the way for elections within a year, an AFP correspondent said. Representatives of 13 factions, including President Mahmoud Abbas' Fatah party and its rival Hamas, as well as independent political figures inked the deal following talks with Egyptian officials. A formal signing ceremony will be held on Wednesday, and will be attended by Hamas chief Khalid Mash'al and President Mahmoud Abbas. » Read more

Palestinian vulnerability exposed as Israel withholds money ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Los Angeles Times by Maher Abukhater - (Blog) May 2, 2011 - 12:00am Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyad on Monday sent out an urgent appeal for help saying he may not be able to pay for salaries for about 130,000 public employees or anything else if Israel does not release about $100 million in funds collected over the last month on behalf of the Palestinian Authority. » Read more

Palestinian vulnerability exposed as Israel withholds money ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Los Angeles Times by Maher Abukhater - May 2, 2011 - 12:00am Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyad on Monday sent out an urgent appeal for help saying he may not be able to pay for salaries for about 130,000 public employees or anything else if Israel does not release about $100 million in funds collected over the last month on behalf of the Palestinian Authority. » Read more

Smaller Palestinian factions, including Islamic Jihad, back Hamas-Fatah reconciliation ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Associated Press May 3, 2011 - 12:00am A top Palestinian negotiator says 15 smaller factions, including militant Islamic groups, have thrown their weight behind a reconciliation deal ending a four-year rift between the movement’s main groups, Hamas and Fatah. Under a framework accord reached last week between Hamas, which controls the Gaza Strip, and Fatah in the West Bank, a unity caretaker government will be formed ahead of elections next year. » Read more